Connecticut Online Casinos

Connecticut has been more recently known as a place to gamble, but the history of casinos and gambling in the state extends back decades. As a state, Connecticut was one of the first to establish a lottery much like you will find in most every other US state today. Gambling facilities began really popping up in the 1970s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that Native American reservations began establishing casino resorts that had never been seen in the region.

To fully understand casino laws in Connecticut might take a degree in law, because much of the language is confusing to say the least. What we do know, however, is that whether you are in front of your computer or looking to venture out into the real world, there are plenty of casino options for you to choose from in the state of Connecticut. And, as this part of the US grows more lenient with regard to gambling in general, Connecticut will likely become even more of a safe haven.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Connecticut?

On the books Connecticut is a state that is not very friendly to online casinos. Historically, just about anything that can commonly be viewed as a “vice” has had a tough time gaining a footing in this state. With roots that are deeply religious, Connecticut is not near the top of the list that will become overtly friendly to any form of gambling anytime soon.

There exist many state statutes that, depending on how you interpret the language, make it illegal for people to gamble on casino games or sports online. In fact, certain interpretations say that you can face criminal charges for simply being in the presence of someone who is engaging in gambling activities.

With a rich history in illicit crime organizations, Connecticut has long been on the forefront of ousting what they view as the vices that accompany this type of illicit activity. While some people argue that having brick and mortar casinos that are legitimate might drive away the underground gambling business, those arguments have not seen much success.

With all this being said, there still exist many casinos offering their services to Connecticut citizens. In addition to that, it is worth mentioning that, in its nearly 20-year history, online casino play has never landed a single Connecticut citizen in legal trouble. For most people, the language of the law in Connecticut makes it more illegal for someone to operate an online casino within Connecticut’s borders than to play at a casino that is based elsewhere. Long story short, there is nothing that will prohibit you from playing at online casinos in Connecticut. The fact that this state has such strange laws is enough to drive most people away from their computers, but it must be reiterated that those strict laws do not pertain to online casino play.

Legal Status of Brick and Mortar Casinos — Connecticut

For quite some time, there was almost no brick and mortar casino presence in the state of Connecticut. That began to change in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until the early 1990s when the state’s first casinos really began operating. Since the 1990s, however, the casino scene in Connecticut has not changed all that much at all. Just like it was back then, the only casinos in the state are a handful of establishments that exist on Native American land. As was mentioned before, Connecticut is a fairly conservative state that has not been quick to rule in the favor of more liberal ideas. Even as the idea of legalized brick and mortar gambling off of Native lands begins to gain momentum in other parts of the country, it seems to have gotten nowhere at all in Connecticut.

Because Connecticut is such a small state, getting to the state’s few casinos is rarely a challenge. In only a matter of hours you can traverse the entire length or width of the state. This is great because if you arrive at a Native American casino and end up not liking what they have to offer, you are never far away from another brick and mortar site. With that being said, the wide variety of online casino options citizens can utilize makes the idea of travelling to a casino almost obsolete.

As we look towards the future there is a chance that the state government may allow for the establishment of more brick and mortar casinos, but for now the only place you can gamble is on Native American land. In fact, there are not even many pieces of pro-casino legislation circulating around the state government. While this may change at some point in the future, the state of Connecticut does not seem overly eager to get a jumpstart on internet gambling. With surrounding states beginning to show their interest, however, it seems as though there is a chance the school of thought of the Connecticut government might be altered sooner rather than later.

After finding out a little bit more about the somewhat restrictive nature of Connecticut gambling laws, you might be led to believe you will encounter problems when it comes time to cash out your online winnings. The reality, however, is that so long as you are dealing with a reputable casino you will never have any issues when it comes to receiving your funds.

In most cases you will be able to cash out either by way of a mailed check or via a direct bank transfer. Some online casinos may only offer one of these options, while some offer both.

Are Connecticut online casinos safe to play at?

Online casinos that offer their services to Connecticut citizens tend to be extremely safe to deal with. With a little bit of time devoted to research, you should be able to easily determine that most casinos are safe to play at. The days of shady online casinos may not be completely behind us, but this is something that is rarely an issue for people from Connecticut.

How old do I have to be to play at Connecticut online casinos?

Because of state laws, it is typically a requirement that anyone wishing to play at online casinos in Connecticut be at least 21 years of age.

Are intrastate online casinos in the works?

As of now there is very little talk regarding the establishment of a regulate intrastate online casino system. While it makes sense from an increased revenue point of view, it seems as though Connecticut lawmakers feel like there are more pressing issues deserving of their attention. As time moves forward I imagine that this sentiment will change, especially as the state creates more of a need for additional revenue streams.